16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence / Violence Against Women: 2016

"Orange the World"

From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) via its Asia-Pacific Regional Office is congratulating participants at the just-concluded Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction for issuing the Delhi Declaration that reiterates a regional blueprint going forward, as well as the expanded Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

It has been little more than a week since the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch with 70 years on the throne.

As Thailand mourns, several regional heads of UN agencies based in Bangkok have visited the Grand Palace to sign the Book of Condolence, including UNFPA's Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Yoriko Yasukawa.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia-Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, offers its condolences to the people of Thailand in their time of profound loss and sadness, upon the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The world's longest reigning monarch passed away on October 13, 2016, after a prolonged illness.

Statement of UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on the International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2016

Population ageing – one of the most significant trends of the 21st century – represents both a cause for celebration and a challenge. To ensure that everyone’s well-being is enhanced through this demographic shift, more efforts are needed to minimize lifelong inequalities and improve the life conditions of older people.

New York - Every year on the International Day of Peace, the United Nations calls on warring parties to lay down their arms and observe a 24-hour global ceasefire. The symbolism of a day without fighting is a crucial reminder that conflict can and must come to an end.

But peace is about much more than putting weapons aside. It is about building a global society in which people live free from poverty and share the benefits of prosperity. It is about growing together and supporting each other as a universal family.

Across Somalia, every day approximately 10 women and babies die due to maternal health complications. To reduce the high maternal and child mortality and morbidity in Somalia, the Japanese government has been supporting UNFPA’s Health System Strengthening Project since April 2015.

The project provides assistance towards the improvement of maternal and child health facilities, hospitals and outreach clinics serving Internally Displaced Persons, the hard to reach and nomadic populations in Somalia.

The key activities of this project include provision of sexual and reproductive health services, lifesaving drugs, supplies and equipment and capacity building in clinical and management skills for health professionals both at the service delivery point and the ministries of health.

As a result of this project:

* Ciyow Midwifery Training Institute has been established. 33 students are currently enrolled.

*103,012 women and men of reproductive age were reached with birth spacing information in health facilities and outreach services. 4,639 women made an informed decision to use modern contraceptives.

* A total of 16,669 deliveries took place in health facilities with skilled birth attendants. 664 deliveries were successfully conducted through life-saving caesarean sections.

* A total of 211 obstetric fistula cases from more than 10 regions in Somalia were identified and successfully repaired through fistula campaigns in 2015,

* Three ambulances have been purchased and donated to the ministries of health to strengthen referral systems for emergency obstetric cases.